Well cap



Nov. 5, 1940 A. Jfs'rRElls WELL CAP 3 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Feb. 27, 1939 if Jgirefis Nov. 5, 1940. I A. J. sTRl-ls Q 2,220,431

WELL CAP Filed Feb. 27, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 f5 #0 A 56 fa W 0 45 55 2e 4 55 I i 6'5 A. J. STR'EHS Nov. 5, 1940.

WELL CAP Filed Feb. 27, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet s Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES CAP Adam J. Strehs, Miami, Fla. ApplicationzFebruary 27, 1939, Serial'No. 258,782

11 Claims.

This inventionzrelates to certain new and useful improvements in well caps.

The primary object the invention is to provide a cap for various types of wells. especially oil wells where fluid flows under pressure so that the discharge or flow of the fluid may bedeiinitely controlled and regulated.

In the sinking of wells, such as oil wells, there is provided a well casing in the form of. a sectional 0 pipethrough which water, dirt, and other matter foreign tooil is flowed for exit from the welland when oil, appears at the ,gpper discharge'end of the'well casing the latter is mapped to seal the upper end thereof with the provision-in theform or a multi-way-fltting beneath thecapor casing head through which the oil is discharged by means of suitable" control devices, the capbeing especially serviceablein shutting ofl agusheriwell for the saving of. oil and prevention ofilres. v Withthe above and other objects in view-that will become apparent as the nature or the invention is better understood, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combination of partshereinaiter more.- fully described, illustrated in the accompanying-drawings, and specifically claimed.

In the. accompanying drawings:

Figurel is a top plan view of a'wellcap constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing pull cables reversely wound upon the capto efi'ect rotation thereof in opposite directions for opening andclosing movements of the valve device therein, Figure 21s a side elevational view of the cap mounted upon a casing head and a multi-way fitting, parts of the latter being illustrated as broken away and shown in section,

Figure 31s a vertical cross-sectional view taken online 33 of Figure 1, showing the well cap threaded onto the casing head and a removable tube exending throughthe upper end of the well cap and entering the head to guide the flow of foreign material initially flowing from the well, Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, similar to Figure'3, with the guide tube removed and the closure valve in the cap sealing the upper end of the casing head and the top opening in the cal,

Figure 5 is a vertical detailed sectional view takenon line 5-5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 6-6 ofFigure 2, showing the guide tube extending through a side notch in the valve plate in the cap for holding the valve platein its open position,

Figure 7 isairagmentary sectional view, similar to Figure 6, with the guidetube removed and the valve plate in its-closing position relativeto 6 the open upper end of the casing head, 7 7

Figure 8 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on line -8--8 of Figured, showing'cooperating rack devices carried by the well cap andlcasing head to eiTect closing movement of the valve plate upon rotation of the cap on the casing head, I

Figure 9 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 4, showing the relative positions of the rack devices on the valve 15 plate and casing head when the valve plate is in, closed position relative to the casing head, I

FlgurelO is: a fragmentary bottom plan view of thevalve plate and the rack device carried thereby, l

Figure 11 is a horizontal detailed sectional view taken on line IIH of Figure 4 with the rack device on the valve plate shown'in phantom and a block on the valve plate beneath the rack plate with'a finger for engaging an abutment lug on the casinghead, I r

Figure 12 is a side elevational'view of the valve 1plate, v

Figure 13 is an end elevational view-of the valve 30 plate,and I Figure 14 is a fragmentary sideelevational view 2 r oithecasinghead. V

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a well cap adapted for association with the upper endof a well casing, such upper threaded end being fragmentarily illustrated: by the reierencecharacter 20 in'Figure 2.w A multi-way fitting @Zl isengag'ed with the upper threaded end Zliof the well casing and a tubular head 22 is attached to'the upper end of the multi-way fitting 2|, the well cap designated in general by the reference character 23 being attached to the upper end of thetubular head 22.

More specifically, the multi-wayiitting 2| comprises internally threaded upwardly and downwardly extending pipe sections 24' and 25, respectively, the lower section 25 having threaded engagement with the upper end 20 of the well casing, while the upper section 24, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, is maintained in end abutting engagement with the lower end of. .the tubular head 22 by means of the internal thimble 26 having threaded engagement with said sections, A series of horizontally disposed outlets 21 extend nular enlargement or shoulder 36 that is externally threaded as at 3|, the upper end 32 of the tubular head above the annular shoulder 36 and g in proximity of the upper end thereof being provided with an annular shoulder 33 of less diameter than the shoulder 38. A portion of the annular shoulder 33 for a distance, more or less, of approximately 90 is provided with rack teeth 34. An abutment rib 35 is carried by and extends longitudinally of the upper end 32 of the tubular head 22 and is disposedin proximity to one end of the rack teeth 34, the abutment rib extending between the shoulders 33 and "and being of the same depth as the rack teeth 34.

The well cap 2 3 is in the form of a casing structure having top and bottom walls 38 and 31, respectively with an annular spacing ring 38 between the marginal edges thereof to provide an inner chamber 39, the top and bottom walls 36 and 31 being anchored to the ring 39 by means' of machine screws 40 passed through openings in the marginal edges of said plates and engaged in threaded sockets in the ring 38 as shown in Figures 3 to 5. The top and bottom walls 36 and 31 gradually increase in thickness from the marginal edge toward the central axes thereof for reinforcing and strengthening the walls and the well cap. I

An internally threaded opening 4| is formed centrally of the bottom wall 31 and is adapted for threaded engagement with the threads 3| onthe shoulder 30 of the tubular casing head 22. A central opening 42 is formed in the upper wall 36 and is of substantially the same diameter as the bore through the upper end of the tubular head 22, said well cap 23 when initially engaged with the well casing 23 for reasons hereinafter to appear having a tubular member 43 mounted in the top wall opening 42 and extending downwardly into the bore of the upper end of the tubularhead 22 as shown in Figures 3 and 5 and supported in position by the outwardly directed flange 44 carried by the upper end of the tubular member that overlies and rests upon the upper surface surrounding the opening 42 in the upper wall 36. From an inspection of Figures 3 and 5 it will beobserved that an unobstructed flow passage through the multi-way fitting 2|, tubular head 22, and well cap 32, is provided when the tubular member 43 is mounted in the well cap and tubular head.

A valve closure for the open upper end of the a tubular head 22 and opening 42 in the upper wall 36 of the well cap, together with operating devices therefor, is mounted in the chamber 39 of the well cap and includes a valve plate 44 of substantially triangular or segment formation in plan view as shown in Figures 6, '7, and 10, the segment-shaped valve 'plate 44 adjacent the apex thereof carrying a facially ofiset block 45 con structed to provide a rack segment 46 having the rack teeth 41 thereof extending through an arc juxtaposed to the lower face of the valve 44, the block 45 further being constructed to provide a rib 43 at the lower side of the rack segment 46 and carrying at one end a tooth 49 disposed in 9,220,431 from the multi-way fitting 2| for the'threaded' upon the tubular head 22 at the are of the rack teeth 41 but in a plane below said, rack'teeth-fl as shown more clearly in Figures 5, :11';-12,- and 13. A valve plate 44 and the block 48 at the apex thereof are provided with a pivot opening 56 and are mounted in the chamber 39 of the well cap 23 with the valve plate 44 in proximity of the upper wall 36 and the rib 48 in proximity of the bottom wall 31, the valve plate and block being pivotally mounted in said chamber bymeans of a pivot pin 5| carried by and depending from the upper wall 36 of the well cap adjacent the marginal edge thereof, the lower end of the pin 5| being freely journaled in an opening 52 in the bottom wall 31 of the well cap. The side edge 53 of the valve, plate 44 has an arcuate recess 54 formed therein and when the valve plate 44 is in its open position relative to the passages through the tubular head of the well casing and the opening in the well cap, as shown in Figure6, the valve plate 44 isdisposed laterally of said openings with the side notch '54 located with respect to said openings tov permit the mounting ofthe tubular member 43 in said openings. Also, the side recess 64 is of such size that when the valve plate 44 is moved to a position as shown in Figure 7 to close the openings in the tubular head 22 and well cap 23, the plain portion of the valve plate will overlie said openings.

It will also be observed from an inspection of Figures 3 and-5 that when the valve plate 44 is in its open position, the upper face of the valve plate is slightly spa from the lower face of the upper wall 36 of the well cap. When the well casing is open at its upper end through the multiway fitting 2|, tubular head 22, and well cap 23, the rack teeth 41 of the rack segment-48 are engaged with the rack teeth 34 on-,-the shoulder 23 at the upper end 32 of the tubular head 22, the tooth 49 on the rib 58 being offset with respect to the abutment rib 35 on the upper-end 32 of the tubular head 22.

After a well, such as an oil well, has been sunk to the desired depth,.utilizingthe desired number of well casing sections 20, the multi-way fltshoulder 38 of the tubular head. The flow of liquid and other matter foreign to oil, such as water, dirt, gravel and the like, has a free passage upwardly through the well casing to outlet through the tubular member" carried by the well cap and upon the appearance ofoil flowing through the well .cap, the tubular member -43 is removed, the well'cap 23rotated on its threaded connection with the tubular head 22 for positioning the valve plate 44 to close the upper end of the tubular head 22 and the opening 42 through the upper wall 38 of the well cap. To eil'ect opening and closing movements of the valve plate 24, the upper-and lower walls 36 and 31 of the well cap respectively carry diametrically opposite outwardly directed ears 56 and 58 having pull cables 5'! and 58 attached thereto as at 53 and 6|! and wound several times around the spacer ring 38 of the well cap and guided in spiral grooves 6| formed in the outer face of the spacer ring 33. The application of power to the pull cables 61 or 58 effects a reverse rotation of the well cap the upper end of the well casing 20.

With the valvemechanism in its open position as illustrated in Figures 3 and it i v sired to move the valve plate 44 -'to" shut off' the flow of oil, or to stop a gusher' through the well casing, the tubular member 43 is first removed and power applied to the pull cable 58 for rotating the well cap 23 in a clockwise direction. During such movement of the well cap, the rack teeth 4'! of the rack segment 46 that are engaged with the rack teeth 34 upon the stationarytubular head 22 effect pivotal movement of the valve plate on its bearing'pin 5i, ease of movement of the valve plate being facilitated by the place ment of abearing washer 62 on the pivot pin'il valve plate 44 to its closed position, the well cap 23 is threaded downwardly upon the tubular head 22 to cause the upper wall 36 of the wellcap to bindingly engage the valve plate 44 and hold the same tightly engaged with the open upper end portion 32 of the-tubular head 22., Also,.during the closing movement of thevalveplate 44 that carries the rack segment 46 and rib 48, said rack segment 46 carries a laterally directed abutment arm 63; shown more clearly in, Figures, 8- and 10 and furtherillustrated in Figures 9 and 1-1 as being 'moved into engagement with. the plain portion of the annular shoulder ,33; upon the upper end of the tubular head 22 for'limiting closing movements of the valveplate and rack segment 46 and for positioning the tooth 49 upon the rib 48 for cooperative engagement withthe abutment rib 35 upon the upper=end 32 of the tubularhead 22.

,The valve plate 44 is illustrated in Figure a in its closed position and with the well cap 23 lowered by rotating movement on the upper end of the tubular head 22 for sealingthe open upper-"- end of the well casing ,20. To open the valve ment with the rack teeth 34 upon the tubular head 22. The initial opening movement imparted to the valve plate 44 is eflfectedby the tooth 49 upon the rib 48 being moved into engagement with the abutment rib 35 upon the stationary tubular head 22, continuedopening movement of the well can resulting in the rack segment 46 being restored to engagement with the rack teeth" 34, the tooth 49 upon the rib 48 then moving away from the abutment rib 35 so that thecomplete openingmovement of the valve plate 44 is accomplished by the rack segment 46' moving over the rack teeth 34. e

While the invention disclosed herein has been described as especially for use in capping oil .wells, it is to'be understood that such disclosure is only illustrative of the many uses for which the invention is adaptable, it being noted that the same is capable of use in other fields and arts wherein liquids, fluids or vapors are worked under high pressure, such as incracki-ng processes or methods for the production of synthetic compounds and chemicals. The well cap has been'lllustrated and described as being operated or rotated by means of cables by remote control, but it is to be understood that other devices Fatwa?" i and it is? not intended that such operating devices be restricted to pull cables.

- From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent, and while there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be under- ;stood that minor'changes may be made in the 7 details. of construction, such -:as will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim: I

' 1. Means for opening and closing a flow passage through a well casing comprising in combination with the upper end of a Well casing'a cap having spaced parallel top and bottom walls providing a chamber therein :with: registering openings centrally-of said top and bottom walls,

the 'bottom wall opening being. threaded forvertical adjustment on the upper end of the wellcasing and valve mechanism'in the chamber of said cap and operatively engaged with said cap and wellcasing adapted to be positioned for closing :the open upper end of the well casing and to be moved into liquid-tight engagement therewith by the t pwall of the capupon downwar'djmove, ment of the cap, characterized by the valve 7 position the latter over the'opennpper'end' of" the. well casing during rotary movement in a downward direction of the cap, said'cooperating means being constructed and arranged to become ineffective for movement of the pivoted valve plate after the latter-has been positioned above" the openjupper end of the well casing whereby" continued downward movement of the cap causes; the top wall thereof to seal the valve plate on the upper end of the wellcasing. r, 2. Means for opening and closing a sage through a well casing comprising in Jcomplate 44, a pull is exerted on the cable '6'! to. cause the well cap to rotate in a counter-clock-v wise direction, it being understood that during closing movement of the valve, the rack segment 46 as shownin Figure 9 is moved out ofenga'gebination with the upper end of-a well casing;

-a cap threaded onto-the upper end of'the well casing and having an openingtherethrough -reg-, isteringwith the flow passage and valve mechanism in the capincluding aivalve device movable into open and closedpositionsrelative-to thecap rotation of the cap on the wellcasing and a'tu-' bular head rigidly attached to the upper end of thewell casing upon which thecap is mounted,

the .valvedevice comprising *a plate pivotally cap during rotation of the cap on the tubular head.

, 7 3 Means for 'openingland closing a flow pasopening and flow passageduring reverse threaded sage through a well casing. comprising in combination with the upper-Send of a well-casing, a

cap threaded onto'the upper end of'the well casing and having an opening therethrough register ing with the flow passage and valve mechanism in the cap including a valve device movable into open and closed positions relative to the cap opening and fiow passage during reverse threaded rotation of the cap on the well casing, a tubular headrigidly attached to the upper end of the well casing upon which the capis mounted and a opening and upper end of the flow passage when the valve device is in open position and acting to tubular member adapted to be insertedin the cap i prevent closing movement of the valve device, the valve device comprising a plate pivotally mounted in the cap and cooperating means carried by the valve plate and tubular head for effecting pivotal movement of the valve plate in the cap during rotation of the cap on the tubular head.

4. Means for opening and closing a flow passage through a well casing comprising in combination with the upper end of a well casing, a cap threadedsonto the upper end of the well casing and'having an opening therethrough registering with the flow passage and valvemechanism in the cap including a valve device movable into open and closed positions relative to the cap opening and flow passage duringreverse threaded rotation of the cap on the well casing and a tubular head rigidly attached to the upper end of the well casing upon which the cap is mounted, the valve device comprising a plate pivotally mounted in the cap and cooperating means carried by the valve plateand tubular head for effecting pivotal movement of the valve plate in the cap duringrotation oi', the cap on the tubular head, said cooperating means including a circumferentially extending series of rack teeth on said tubular head and a. rack segment on the valve plate engaged therewith.

5. Means for opening and closing a flow passage through a well casing comprising in conibi nation with the upper end of a well casing, a cap threaded onto the upper end of the well casing and having an opening therethrough registering with the flow passage and valve mechanism'in the cap including a valve device movable into open :and closed positions relative to the cap opening and flow passage during reverse threaded rotation of the cap on the well casing, a tubular head rigidly attached to the upper end of the well casing upon which the cap is mounted and a .tubular member adapted to be inserted in the cap opening and upper end of the flow passage when the valve device is in open position and acting to prevent closing movement of the valve device, the valve device comprising a plate pivotally mounted in the cap and cooperating means carried by the valve plate :and tubular head for effecting pivotal movement of the valve plate in the cap during rotation of the cap on the tubular head, said cooperating means including a, circumferentially extending series of rack teeth on said tubular head and a rack segment on the valve plate engaged therewith.

6. Means for opening and closing a flow passage through .a well casing comprising in combi-- nation with the upper end of a well casing, a cap threaded onto the upper end of the well casing and having an opening therethrough registering with the flow passage and valve mechanism in the cap including a valve device movable into open' movement of thevalve plate in the cap during rotation of the cap on the tubular head, said co operating means including a circumferentially extending series of rack teeth on said tubular head and a rack segmentonthe valve plate engaged therewith, the valve plate and well cap being cooperatively constructed to permit slight relative movement of the valve plate vertically in said cap, the rack teeth and rack segment being numbered to permit disengagement'thereof when the valve plate is moved to its closed position whereby continued threaded movement 01 the cap 7 on the tubular head eflects downward movement valve plate and rack segment carried thereby during opening movement of the valve to restore engagement of the rack segment with the cooperating rack teeth. g

'7. Means for opening and closing a new passage through a well casing comprising in combination with the upper end of a well casing, a cap threaded onto the upper end 01 the well casing and having an opening therethrough registering with the flow passage and valve mechanism in the cap including a valve device movable into open. and closed positions relative to the cap opening and flow passage during reverse threaded rotation of the cap on the well casing, a tubular head rigidly attached to the upper end 01! the well casing upon which the cap is mounted and a tubular member adapted to be inserted in the cap opening and upper end of the flow passage when the valve device is in open position and acting to prevent closing movement of the valve device, the valve device comprising a platepivotally mounted in the'cap and cooperating means carried by the valve plate and tubular head for eflecting pivotal movement of the valve plate in the cap during rotation of the cap on the tubular head, said cooperating means including a circumferentially extending series of rack teeth on said tubular head and a rat-k segment on the valve plate engaged there with, the valve plate and well cap being coop,- eratively constructed to permit slight relative movement of the valve plate vertically 'in said cap, the rack teeth and rack segment being numbered to permit disengagement thereof when the valve plate is moved to its closed position whereby continued threaded movement of the cap on the tubular head efiects downward movement of the cap relative to thevalve plate to cause binding engagementv of the valve plate between the cap, and tubular head and other cooperating means carried by the valve plate and tubular head adapted to'eifect initial movement of the valve plate and rack segment carried thereby during opening movement oi the valve to restore engagement of the rack "segment with the cooperating rack teeth. a a I 8. Means for opening and closing a flow passage through a well casing comprising in combination with the upper endrof a well casing, a

cap threaded onto the upper end of the well" casing and having an opening therethrough registering with the flow passage and valve mecha'-' nism in the cap including a valve device movable into open and closed positions relative to the cap opening and flow passage during reverse threaded rotation of the cap on the well casing and a tubular head rigidly attached to the upper end of the well casing upon which the cap is mounted, the valve device comprising a plate pivotally mounted in the cap and cooperating means carried by the valve plate and tubular head for effecting pivotal-movement of the valve plate in the cap during rotation of the cap on the tubular head, said cooperating means including a circumferentially extending series of rack teeth and well cap being cooperatively constructed to permit slight relative movement of the. valve plate vertically in said .cap, the rack teeth and rack segment being numbered to permltdisen gagement thereof when the valve plate is moved to its closed position whereby continued threaded movement of the cap on the tubular head effects downward movement of the cap relative to the valve plate to cause binding engagement of the valve plate between the cap and tubular head and other cooperating means carried by the valve plate and tubular head adapted to effect initial movement of the valve plate and rack segment carried thereby during opening movement of the valve to restore engagement of the rack segment with the cooperating rack teeth, and means carried by the rack segment and cooperating with the tubular head for placing said other cooperating means in operative relationship during closing movement of the valve plate.

9. Means for opening and closing a flow'passage through a well casing comprising in combination with the upper end of a well casing, a cap threaded onto the upper end of the well casing and having an opening therethrough registering with the flow passage and valve mechanism in the cap including a valve device movable into open and closed positions relative to the cap opening and flow passage during reverse threaded rotation of the cap on the well casing, a tubular head rigidly attached to the upper end of the well casing upon which the cap is mounted and a tubular member adapted to be inserted in the cap opening and upper end of the flow passage when the valve device is in open position and acting to prevent closing movement of the valve device, the valve device comprising a plate pivotally mounted in the cap and cooperating means carried by the valve plate and tubular head for efi'ecting pivotal movement of the valve plate in the cap during rotation of the cap on the tubular head, said cooperating means including a circumferentially extending series of rack teeth on said tubular head and a rack segment on the valve plate engagedtherewith, the valve plate and well cap being cooperatively constructed to permit slight relative movement of the valve plate vertically in said cap, the rack teeth and rack segment being numberedto permit disengagement thereof when the valve plate is moved to its closed position whereby continued threaded movement of the cap on the tubular head efiects downward movement of the cap relative to the valve plate to cause binding engagement of the valve plate between the cap and tubular head and other cooperating means carried by the valve plate and tubular head adapted to effect initial movement of the valve plate and rack segment carried thereby during opening movement of the valve to restore engagement of the rack segment with the cooperating rack teeth, and means carried by the rack segment and cooperating with the tubular head for placing said other cooperating means in operative relationship during closing movement of the valve plate.

10. Means for opening and closing a flow passage through a well casing comprising in combination with the upper end of a well casing, a cap threaded onto the upper end of the well casing and having an opening therethrough registering with the flow passage and valve mechanism in the cap including a valve device movable into open and closed positions relative to the cap opening and flow passage during reverse threaded rotation of the cap on the well casing, a tubular,

head rigidly attached to theupper end of the I well casing upon which the cap is mounted and a tubular member adapted to be inserted in the cap opening and upper end of the flow passage when the valve device is in open position and acting to prevent closingmovement of the valve device, the valve device comprising aplate pivotally mounted in the cap and cooperating means carried by the valve plate and tubular head for efiecting pivotal movement of the valve plate in the cap during rotation of the cap on the tubular head, said cooperating means including a circumferentially entending series of rack teeth on said tubular head and a rack-segment on the valve plate engaged therewith, the valve plate and well cap being cooperatively constructed to permit slight movement of the valve plate vertically in said cap; the rack teeth and rack segment being numbered to permit disengagement thereof when the valve plate is moved to its closed position whereby continued threaded movement of the rack segment and cooperating-with the tubularv head for placing said other cooperating means in operative relationship during closing movement of the valve plate, including a rib on the underside of said rack segment, a tooth on said rib in a plane below the teeth of the rack segment and an abutment rib on the tubular head below the rack teeth carried thereby and positioned for engagement by said tooth.

11. Means for opening and closing a flow passage through a well casing comprising in combination with the upper end of a well casing, a

cap threaded onto the upper end of the well casing and having an opening therethrough registering with the flow passage and valve mechanism in the cap including a valve device movable into open and closed positions relative to the cap opening and flow passage during reverse threaded rotation of the cap on the well casing, a tubular head rigidly attached to the upper end of the well casing upon which the cap is mounted and a tubular member adapted to be inserted in the cap opening and upper end of the flow passage when the valve device is in open position and acting to prevent closing movement of the valve device, the valve device comprising a plate pivotally mounted in the cap and cooperating means carried by the valve plate and tubular head for effecting pivotal movement of the valve plate in the cap during rotation of the cap on the tubular head, said cooperating means including a circumferentially extending series of rack teeth on said tubular head and a rack segment on the 10 ried by the rack segment and cooperating with the tubular head or placing said other cooperating means in operative relationship during closing movement or the valve plate including a rib v on the underside 01' said rack segment, a. tooth on said rib in a plane below the teeth of the rack segment and an abutment rib on the tubular head below the rack teeth carried thereby and positioned for engagement by said tooth.

ADAM J. STREHS. 

